Grundy Reporter

City of Highland City Council met Aug. 4,

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

City Clerk Barbara Bellm called the Regular Session to order at 6:30pm. Mayor Hemann was absent. Council members Klaus, Sloan, Bellm and Napper were present. Others in attendance were City Manager Conrad, City Attorney Kathryn Warren, Directors Cook, Gillespie, Koehnemann, Widman, and Wilken, Deputy City Clerk Flake, City Clerk Bellm, and 7 citizens.

ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM

City Clerk Bellm asked for a motion to elect one councilperson to serve as mayor pro tem during the temporary absence of Mayor Hemann. The mayor pro tem shall perform the duties and possess all the rights and powers of the mayor and shall vote in his/her capacity as councilperson only. Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to elect Councilwoman Peg Bellm as Mayor Pro Tem. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. All aye, none nay. Motion carried.

MINUTES

Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 21, 2025 Regular Session as attached; seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

PUBLIC FORUM

Citizens’ Requests and Comments:

Highland Moose Lodge - Highland Moose Lodge Annual Chili Cook Off – Special Event Application – Kerry Fenton, Representative, Highland Moose Lodge #2479, was present to seek approval for their annual Chili Cook-Off to be held Sunday, October 19, 2025, on the Square. She stated we would need the streets blocked off around the Square for the car show, and access to the bathrooms and electric.

Councilwoman Bellm inquired this is all included in the event application. Ms. Fenton replied yes. Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve the request of Highland Moose Lodge to host their annual chili cook-off and car cruise on Sunday, October 19, 2025 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

John Kapp stated the county fair was nice, this year. It was hot, but people still came out. The thing that was amazing was the Motorcross. They set up things up for it after the rodeo, then tore it down and reset the track.

Requests of Council:

No comments or requests.

Staff Reports:

No report.

NEW BUSINESS

Approve Notice of Municipal Letting, Bid # PR-13-25, for Weinheimer Ceiling Replacements – Councilman Napper made a motion to approve Notice of Municipal Letting, Bid # PR-13-25, for Weinheimer Ceiling Replacements as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. City Manager Conrad reminded everyone that we did the roof replacement last year. This is the next step. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Award Bid # PW-03-25, for CIPP Sewer Rehabilitation 2025 – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to award Bid # PW-03-25, for CIPP Sewer Rehabilitation 2025 in the amount of $347,481.00, to SAK Construction, LLC, of O’Fallon, Missouri as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Councilwoman Bellm asked Public Works Director Joe Gillespie to explain this process. Director Gillespie explained CIPP stands for cured in place pipe. Essentially, it is an inverted sock impregnated into the pipe. They force steam into the pipe to it through, then use water to cure it; and, then follow that by driving a router bit through. They do about 450 feet in about three hours. The new pipe is estimated to last about 100 years. This process is much less disruptive to customers, streets, alleys and other infrastructure. In 2013, following a significant rain event, the city began a $3.5M project. It has reduced the number of issues significantly over the years. We have a couple of manhole and landholes that will be addressed in this project. Councilman Napper asked can they do the same process with water pipes. We know we have some residents with lead pipes. Director Gillespie replies, yes that is possible. Councilwoman Bellm expressed it has been a well-proven project over the years. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Award Bid # PW-06-25, for Pavement Marking 2025 – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to award Bid # PW-06-25, for Pavement Marking 2025, in the amount of $34,054.00, to Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC, of Belleville, IL as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Award Bid # PW-07-25, for Street Resurfacing 2025 – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to award Bid # PW-07-25, for Street Resurfacing 2025, in the amount of $852,325.00, to Gleeson Asphalt, Inc., of Belleville, IL as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. City Manager Conrad reported this is part of a multi-year project. Last year, was the resurfacing of Laurel, Pine, and Cypress. This project will be the same process for 7th, 9th, Poplar from the roundabout to Lindenthal; and, Lemon Street from 14th to Lindenthal. There will be some interruption with school traffic, because the project will not start until September. We will coordinate with the school and bus service. Councilwoman Bellm expressed this really made a difference with the last project. Director Gillespie noted this was last done in 1997. Getting the lifespan we have had has been exceptional. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-88/RESOLUTION Waiving Customary Bidding Procedures for Purchase of 2025 Caterpillar Model 304-07 Mini Excavator Pursuant to Sourcewell Pricing – Councilman Napper made a motion to approve Bill #25-88/Resolution #25-08-3213 waiving customary bidding procedures for purchase of 2025 Caterpillar Model 304-07 Mini Excavator pursuant to Sourcewell Pricing to Fabick Cat, of Fenton, MO, in the amount of $79,990.00 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-89/RESOLUTION Waiving Customary Bidding Procedures for Purchase of a New Case 580SN 4WD Loader Backhoe Pursuant to Sourcewell Pricing – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #25-89/Resolution #25-08-3214 waiving customary bidding procedures for purchase of a new Case 580SN 4WD Loader Backhoe pursuant to Sourcewell Pricing to Luby Equipment Services, of Caseyville, IL, in the amount of $149,500.00 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. Councilwoman Bellm asked City Manager Conrad to explain why we do these Sourcewell purchases. City Manager Conrad explained Sourewell is a pre-negotiated pricing program done through the State of Minnesota, which covers a lot more equipment than the State of Illinois’ bid list pricing. It is much cheaper than what we can purchase. It is an approved means of purchasing under the State of Illinois’ guidelines. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Bill #25-90/RESOLUTION Authorizing and Directing Application to the Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) FY26 Park and Trail Grant Program, for Assistance for the Purpose of the Installation of Pickleball Courts at Spindler Park – Councilwoman Sloan made a motion to approve Bill #25-90/Resolution #25-08-3215 authorizing and directing application to the Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD) FY26 Park and Trail Grant Program, for assistance for the purpose of the installation of Pickleball Courts at Spindler Park as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Napper. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

REPORTS

Accepting Expenditures Report #1295 for July 19, 2025 through August 1, 2025 – Councilman Napper made a motion to accept Expenditures Report #1295 for July 19, 2025 through August 1, 2025 as attached. Motion seconded by Councilman Klaus. Roll Call Vote: Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Napper, and Bellm voted aye, none nay. Motion carried.

Councilman Klaus made a motion to adjourn. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sloan. All aye, none nay. Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:51pm.

https://www.highlandil.gov/City%20Council/Minutes/2025/8-04-2025.pdf